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Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo

WARNING: MICHELANGELO WAS AN ARTIST WHO PAINTED AND SCULPTED. THIS CLIP, FROM THE BBC, PROVIDES VIEWS OF HIS WORK. SOME OF THE SCENES, INCLUDING CLOSE-UPS OF HIS SCULPTURES, MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Michelangelo (1475 to 1564) was a sculptor, painter, architect and Renaissance man. Who was he, as a person? How was he able to master so many different art forms?

Aside from the work itself, Michelangelo's story (this link contains beautiful illustrations) has been passed down through the centuries. If we trace it all back to original words, we find many of them came from ... Michelangelo himself (as he related his version of life to Ascanio Condivi, his biographer).

But how much of his story is true and how much is legend?

When his mother died, she left five sons in the care of her husband. Michelangelo's father was not pleased with his son's desire to become an artist. The teen's talent, however, was visibly undeniable.

The father finally relented and allowed his boy to become an art apprentice.

Throughout his life, Michelangelo would say his genius was mystical. On the other hand, it is fair to note he was born in the right place at the right time.

Growing up in Florence, during the 1490s, he was at the center of the Italian Renaissance. With a limitless horizon (in his city) and unending ambition (in his own mind), he was poised to master painting, sculpture and architecture.

Then ... he met Lorenzo de Medici who saw some of the young artist's work. Now there was someone who could support what Michelangelo wanted to achieve.

Media Credits

From "The Divine Michelangelo" (2004), with Stephen Noonan playing the title role. Copyright, BBC, all rights reserved. Clip provided here as fair use for educational purposes and to acquaint new viewers with the program. Online, via BBC Worldwide Channel at YouTube.